Crash near Tolono claims life of Tolono man
UPDATED 10:42 a.m. Thursday
TOLONO — Champaign County sheriff's deputies continue to investigate a crash that claimed the life of a man early Thursday west of Tolono.
Coroner Duane Northrup identified the driver as Jamie C. Ping, 21, of Tolono. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
Sheriff Dan Walsh said Mr. Ping's body was found inside his car in a drainage ditch that runs parallel to County Road 900 E, also known as Duncan Road, about 6:30 a.m.
Walsh said Mr. Ping was driving a 2005 white Chevrolet Malibu south near County Road 750 E, just west of Tolono, when he left the road.
"The preliminary estimate would be that it was about 80 yards from the drainage ditch. It gradually drifted to the left and then hit the opposite side of the ditch. It was a severe impact. In the process, the car overturned," Walsh said.
Walsh said that Mr. Ping remained in the car. He was wearing a seat belt.
Walsh said there wasn't much water in the drainage ditch, which was rather steep.
A passerby noticed the wrecked car.
Mr. Ping was pronounced dead at 7:40 a.m.
How do you know that the pictures were posted before the family was notified? This article has been up all morning and there was no picture (nor critical comments) posted from 8:00 until at least about 9:30. Since the accident occurred at 6:40 and the vicitim was pronounced dead at 7:40, I'd bet a dollar to a donut that the family was notified by the time the picture was posted af 9:30ish.
But the article said they were withholding the name until the family was notified and the pic of the car was already up. That is why I replied, and, then the article got updated. Just saying. I feel for the family and know personally how it feels when that phone rings before the authorities have had a chance to do their job. My sympathy to the family.
How many times have you heard on the news when there is a fatality involved that "the identity of the deceased is being withheld by the coroner's office until next of kin has been notified?" Plenty of times. Since Mr. Northrup identified the deceased to the press and the general public wouldn't you conclude that the 'next of kin,' had been notified? I would think so.
Therefore I believe the News-Gazette followed all pertinent protocol in this tragedy.
No, you use yours, they leave you in it until you are on steady ground where you can be extricated out of it ( unless you're still alive then it is done right then and there) I'm sure he was still in it !!!, the channel 15 news at 10 O'clock just showed it, and the tow truck was lifting it out of the ditch still upside down, and you could see his bloody arm by the window where he was still seatbelted in!!! , I don't think that is right at all !!!! I don't care who or what it is, the car should of had a tarp over it, or the firefighters should of had tarps up, so nobody could see anything until they got the car upright, and layed him to rest on the stretcher !!! That is what we always did on the interstate when there was a fatality.... thanks.... R.I.P.... PING YOU WILL BE MISSED BY LOTS OF PEOPLE.... my thoughts and prayers got out to his family and friends
THUS, the absence of the tarping at the time the picture was taken would be an indication that the body had been removed. I would guess at this point, that Channel 15 news should never have broadcasted what you say you saw. That sure would have seemed like the cameraman was too close to the scene, and don't start with "but camera's have zoom lens".....blah, blah, blah. Everyone wants to be the first with a news scoop, to the point of being thoughtless with such actions.
The focus is all wrong here folks. The focus should be on the young mans life. I had the privilege of knowing Jamie and watching him wrestle and attend Parkland College. A very nice young man. A good competitor. Thanks you Jamie for setting a good example of wearing your seatbelt. RIP.
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